• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 1996

When reserpine-producing cell strains of Rauwolfia serpentina were transferred from the dark to the light irradiation, the production of reserpine was extremely enhanced whereas the cell growth was suppressed. In an incubation period of 20 days, the most effective culture condition for reserpine production was the combination of 8 days of dark culture and following 12 days of light culture. The time courses of both cell growth and reserpine production were measured in vitro in order to clarify the effect of wave length range of light on the biosynthesis of reserpine. Although the growth of cultured cells which had been incubated under continuous red, yellow, and green lights, respectively, was similar to that of the cultured cells subcultured in the dark. The cells cultured under red light irradiation produced less reserpine than dark-grown cultures. Both blue and near-ultraviolet light inhibited the growth of cultured cells. The production of reserpine was strikingly enhanced by blue light, but was strongly inhibited by near-ultraviolet light.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 1990

Neural regulation of phenylethanolamine N-meth-yltransferase (PNMT) was studied with reserpine as a neuronal agent in rat adrenal medulla. The enzyme activity assay and northern blot analysis were performed to determine whether the induction of PNMT activity after reserpine treatment was associated with elevation of mRNA coding for PNMT. The i.p. administration of reserpine (2.5 mg/kg) on alternate days fot 4 injections to rats brought about 30% increase of adrenal medullary PNMT activity and approximately 60% stimulation of the PNMT mRNA level in rat adrenal gland. A dose of 10 mg/kg of reserpine was chosen to perform optimum induction of PNMT activity in the rat adrenal gland based on the results of dose response curve of reserpine. Time course reserpine (10 mg/kg) effects on the rat adrenal medullary PNMT were as follows: 1. Peripheral PNMT activity reached maximum level after 7 days of drug treatment on alternate days. 2. Trans-synaptic stimulation by reserpine increased pretranslational activity of rat adrenal PNMT, but not translational activity. 3. Immunotitration of PNMT molecule after reserpine treatment indicated that reserpine produced an enzyme with greater antibody affinity than endogenous molecule in the rat adrenal gland.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.812-824
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• 2013

Reserpine, an anti-hypertensive drug, is able to positively modulate several phenotypes associated with $A{\beta}$ toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated into the therapeutic effects of reserpine on mammalian neurodegenerative disorders, and found that significant alteration of the key factors influencing AD was detected in Tg2576 mice after reserpine treatment for 30 days. The aggressive behavior of Tg2576 mice was significantly improved upon reserpine treatment, whereas their social contact was consistently maintained. Furthermore, the levels of $A{\beta}$-42 peptide in the hippocampus of the brain and blood serum were lower in the reserpine-treated group than in the vehicle-treated group. Among g-secretase components, the expression levels of PS-2, Pen-2, and APH-1 were slightly lower in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice, although a significant change in nicastrin (NCT) expression was not detected. Furthermore, the serum level of nerve growth factor (NGF) increased in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Among down-stream effectors of the NGF receptor TrkA signaling pathway, reserpine treatment induced elevation of TrkA phosphorylation and reduction of ERK phosphorylation. In addition, in the NGF receptor $p75^{NTR}$ signaling pathway, the expression levels of $p75^{NTR}$ and Bcl-2 were enhanced in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice, whereas the expression level of RhoA declined. Overall, these results suggest that reserpine can help relieve AD pathogenesis in Tg2576 mice through downregulation of $A{\beta}$-42 deposition, alteration of ${\gamma}$-secretase components, and regulation of NGF metabolism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-247
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• 1993

This study was designed to confirm the effect of dietary protein level and oral administration of tryptophan on brain serotonin metabolism. Two animal experiments were conducted. The objectives and results of research were as follows : In the first experiment, it was investigated whether administration of reserpine to Sprague-Dawley rats fed 6% or 20% casein diet induced decrease in serum tryptophan and large neutral amino acid(LNAA) concentrations, tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio, brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) contents. Brain serotonin content of 6% casein diet group was lower than those of 20% casein diet group. Both 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with reserpine to induce the analogous depression, showed the notable decrease in brain serotonin content when they were compared with 20% casein diet group not administered with reserpine. Serum tryptophan/LNAA ration and brain 5-HIAA content showed a tendency similar to the change of serotonin content, but the mean difference among all groups was not significant. From these results, it could be said that when the dietary protein level was low, brain serotonin content was decrease. The second experimnt was to see the change in serum tryptophan concentration and tryptophan/LNAA ratio and brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-HIAA content when tryptophan was administered orally to the animals treated with reserpine. Serum tryptophan concentration tended to increase in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with tryptophan, especially in the 6% casein diet group. Serum tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio tended to incrase in reserpine-tteated 6% casein diet group, while decrease in reserpine-treated 20% casein diet group. Brain tryptophan content was increased in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups. However, brain serotonin content of reserpine-treated 6% casein diet group showed a tendency to decrease, while that of reserpine-treated 20% casein group increase. Consequently, the effect of tryptophan administration on increase of brain tryptophan and serotonin content in animals treated with reserpine was far more excellent in 20% casein diet groups. It was concluded that dietary protein intake and tryptophan administration increase brain serotonin level. Accordingly, it was possible to confirm that brain function, particularly in aspect of behavior related to the serotonin, was changed with manipulation of dietary composition.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 2017

Reserpine is a well-known medicine for the treatment of hypertension, however the role of reserpine in cell signaling is not fully understood. Here, we report that reserpine treatment induces the phosphorylation of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) at threonine 172 (T172) in PC12 cells. Phosphorylation of AMPK T172 is regulated by upstream signaling molecules, and the increase of phospho-T172 indicates that AMPK is activated. When we examined the FOXO3a dependent transcription by using the FHRE-Luc reporter assay, reserpine treatment repressed the FHRE-Luc reporter activity in a dose dependent manner. Finally, we showed that reserpine treatment induced the phosphorylation of AMPK as well as cell death in MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that AMPK is a potential cellular target of reserpine.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 1969

Alloxan is a diabetogenic agent which destroys the beta-cell of the Langerhan's islet of pancreas and it disturbs the secretion of insulin. It is known that alloxan interfers with the hepatic enzyme activity and some aspect of the other metabolism. The author attempted to investigate the influence of reserpine upon the serum transaminase activity, blood sugar and serum total cholesterol contents of rabbit treated alloxan. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The serum GOT and GPT activity of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine showed marked decrease compared with alloxan control group. 2. The blood sugar level of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine showed lower than the alloxan control group. 3. The total cholesterol level of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine was lower than that of alloxan control group.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.89-105
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to see the effect of oral administration of reserpine (2mg/d) and tryptophan (40.35mg/d) on the serum amino acid concentrations and organ composition, food consumption, body weight, blood hematocrit(Hct) and hemoglobin(Hb) levels in Sprague-Dawley rats fed 6% or 20% casein diet. Any adverse effects of reserpine and tryptophan were not observed in animals, except that liver fat contents were increased in low protein group. In other words the administration of typtophan decreased liver fat contents in 6% casein and reserpine-treated 20% casein groups, but increased in reserpine-treated 6% casein group. But the low protein diet had significant adverse effects in animals. The 6% casein diet, therefore, had a tendency to decrease food consumption and body weight. The simillar tendency was shown in serum essential amino acid concentrations, organ weight and protein contents of liver and muscle. From the results, it would be safe to conclude that the oral administration of large deses of reserpine and tryptophan did not induce such a signifcant malnutrition as the low protein diet did.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.17-20
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• 1966

The blood pressure responses following repeated injection of bradykinin were observed in the unanesthetized rabbits or rabbits treated with reserpine (0.5mg/kg IV) 24 hours previously. Bradykinin (0.5ug/kg) was injected intravenously at 10 minutes intervals for 5 times. In both groups of rabbits no appreciable changes in the depressor responses to each injection of bradykinin were observed. In the rabbits pretreated with reserpine, however, the more pronounced depressor responses to bradykinin was elicited.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 1988

Effects from many different approaches have been made to cure Raynaud's phenomenon, such as a dorsal sympathectomy, topical injection of nitroglycerin, phentolamin and procaine, and oral or parentral administration of various drugs. However, there has been no successful management proven yet. In recent years, it was reported that intra-arterial administration ill normal subjects as well as patients with Raynaud's syndrome has demonstrated a significant rise in blood flow to the lands. We used intermittent stellate ganglion blocks in conjunction with intra-arterial injections of reserpine and procaine in 10 patients suffering from finder necrosis. The stellate ganglion block was performed in a paratracheal approach by injection of 1% lidocaine purposely mixed with adrenaline followed by the administration of reserpine 1 mg and procaine 50 mg through a butterfly needle inserted in the radial or brachial artery. The administration of reserpine and procaine was done only twice at intervals of 1 week because of the development of suspected arteriosclerosis. The stellate ganglion block was carried out once a week for about 3 months, then once a month as needed for 6 to 12 months. As the procedure was carried out and the necrotic tissue sloughed off, oozing appeared and new granulation tissue was observed. 5 out of 10 patients were healed completely and the rest improved considerably but were not followed to the end. We concluded that the intra-arterial administration of reserpine and procaine helped initiate and accelerate increasing blood flow to the hand and the stellate ganglion block continued to help revascularization by dilating the peripheral beds.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 1988

최근에 마취한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체를 전기적으로 자극하면 췌장의 외분비 기능이 증가하며 이러한 결과는 망상체의 자극으로 인하여 교감신경계의 활성도가 상승하기 때문이라는 보고가 있다. 한편 교감신경계의 활성도가 상승할 경우 교감신경계의 전달 물질인 catecholamine이 교감신경 종말 뿐만 아니라 부신수질에서도 유리된다고 알려져 있다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 중뇌망상체의 자극으로 인하여 췌장의 외분비 기능이 증가함에 있어 교감신경계가 중요한 역할을 담당하는지를 확인하고, 이때 부신수질이 관여하는가를 알아보고자 하였다. 마취한 흰쥐에게 atropine (1mg/kg) 또는 reserpine (5mg/kg)을 투여하거나 또는 부신을 적출한 다음 중뇌망상체를 전기 자극하면서 췌장액을 채취하였다. 사용한 전기자극의 매개변수는 1.3V, 40Hz, 2msec이었다. atropine과 reserpine을 투여하면 마취한 흰쥐의 자발적 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량은 모두 유의하게 감소하였으나 부신을 제거하면 췌장액 분비량에는 이렇다할 변동이 없는 반면에 단백질 분비량은 유의하게 감소하였다. 중뇌망상체를 전기자극하면 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량 모두가 유의하게 증가하였다. 이러한 망상체의 자극효과는 atropine 전처치에 의하여 이렇다할 영향을 받지 않았으나 reserpine 전처치에 의하여 소실되었다. 그러나 부신을 적출하면 망상체 자극에 의한 췌장액 분비량의 증가는 유지되는 반면에 단백질 분비량의 증가는 소실되었다. 한편 미주신경을 절단한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체를 자극하는 동안에 경동맥의 수축기 및 이완기 혈압이 상승하였는데 이러한 망상체의 자극효과도 reserpine의 투여에 의하여 유의하게 감소되었다. 본 실험의 결과를 종합하여 보면 마취한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체의 자극은 교감신경계를 활성화시켜 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량에 촉진적인 영향을 미치며, 이때 활성화된 교감신경계는 부분적으로 부신을 경유하게 췌장의 단백질 분비에 촉진적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 생각된다.